Who Defiled the Ocean?

On this day, trouble finally stirred in the waters surrounding Sea God Island.

Xiao Bai, king of the Demon Soul Great White Sharks, came riding the wind and cleaving the waves with five white sharks, carrying the Shrek Seven Devils.

Their target was precisely the Evil Spirit Orca Group led by Ren Tao.

Unfortunately, Ren Tao knew nothing about it.

Even if he had known, he had no way to detect the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. Tang San's spiritual power had already reached the vast level, far beyond what an Evil Orca King with a hundred thousand years of cultivation could match.

So at that moment, Ren Tao was merely lying above the concentric formations of the Evil Spirit Orca Group as usual, contemplating his miserable life as a "fish" since transmigrating.

It was not that he did not want to negotiate with Tang San. But Ren Tao knew perfectly well that, in Tang San's eyes, he was nothing more than a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Before the Shrek Seven Devils, whose strength surpassed his own, he was merely a fish.

Others held the knife and chopping block, while he was the fish laid upon it. Would anyone bargain with the meat on their chopping block?

All he could do was try his best to survive. Even if his inferior skills left him dead at Tang San's hands, at least he would have tried.

"But Tang San, I already know every move you're going to make. Who will bring down the deer is still anyone's guess."

Ren Tao muttered to himself, a faint anticipation even stirring in his heart.

At a certain moment, something stirred within him, and he looked down. An invisible ripple seemed to flash past.

His spiritual power seemed to detect something, but it vanished like a fleeting streak of light.

Immediately afterward, an orca in the fourth ring let out an earth-shaking howl. As though suffering unimaginable agony, it suddenly shot forward.

"They're here!"

Ren Tao's nerves tightened. He almost attacked on instinct, but forcibly held himself back.

The enemy is hidden, while I'm exposed. Without locating the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, anything I do will be wasted effort.

I can only endure!

"Everyone, be careful! Stay away from the maddened orca!"

A faint spiritual fluctuation spread at a frequency unique to the Evil Spirit Orcas, instantly imprinting itself in every orca's mind.

"There's an enemy! Let me tear them apart!"

Several orcas lost their heads to rage and charged out recklessly, ignoring their king's orders.

"Come back!"

Ren Tao shouted, but it was too late!

Two Evil Spirit Orcas were attacked by the maddened one. Half of one's head was bitten off, killing it on the spot.

The Evil Spirit Orca Group fell into unprecedented panic. Only Ren Tao knew that this was Tang San attacking with a Godly Zhuge Crossbow infused with water from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring. But those concepts were too complicated for him to explain to his kin.

With a shift of his body, he arrived before the Evil Spirit Orca struck by the bolt.

Just as described in the original Douluo novel, the orca floated belly-up in the seawater, clearly beyond saving. Yet there was not a single wound anywhere on its body, nor any blood flowing out.

It looked utterly uncanny.

Even though he had read the description in the novel, experiencing it firsthand still made Ren Tao's scalp prickle. Alongside his fear came the sorrow of seeing one of his own kind suffer.

This is murder!

Rage distorted Ren Tao's voice. An enormous surge of sound erupted from his mouth, and the surrounding Evil Spirit Orcas roared in unison. The rolling sound waves formed ripples of energy that covered the entire stretch of sea.

But impotent fury could change nothing. Ren Tao knew he had to keep a clear head if he hoped to win the contest ahead. So, following the book's description as closely as possible, he displayed the panic of someone who knew nothing.

A moment later, another orca underwent the same change. This time, Ren Tao unhesitatingly unleashed a dark-red water blade. It struck the orca and instantly sliced it in half.

"Roar!"

Amid his furious roar, Ren Tao's eyes reddened.

Although his human sense of identity had always made these orcas feel like another kind entirely, he had spent several months with them, and each was like a subordinate to him. Stupid and savage as they might be, they had always treated their king with utmost respect. Having to kill them himself still filled him with pain from the depths of his heart.

But all of this was a script already written, and the present Ren Tao had no power to change anything.

He could only watch helplessly as a desolate sorrow rose within him.

Around him, the Evil Spirit Orca Group began a large-scale Spiritual Detection sweep. Throughout the process, however, Ren Tao did not waste any of his own spiritual power.

For now, he merely conserved his strength. If possible, he would have dearly loved to escape with his kin. But the truth was that, wherever they fled, their destined destruction awaited.

Things have come this far. There is nothing left but to fight!

If he won, perhaps a few members of the Evil Spirit Orca Group could survive. If he lost, they would all be wiped out.

Time passed, second by second, and Ren Tao's mood gradually settled into calm-a cold, icy calm. At this juncture of life and death, there was no time for grief. What mattered now was who could be more ruthless.

An hour passed, then two hours, then three...

During that time, no further casualties occurred, so the Evil Spirit Orcas' anger gradually subsided, and their spiritual probing slowly ceased.

But just then, their opponent's second wave of attacks began...

There was no denying that Tang San's grasp of timing in battle and his insight into his opponents' minds had reached a terrifying degree.

Had he not known Tang San's plan beforehand, Ren Tao would probably have gone mad by now.

The one-sided slaughter continued. At last, Ren Tao gave the order to retreat.

Just as written in the book, everything played out according to the predetermined script.

But there were, in fact, things the book had never mentioned.

At that moment, communication was still taking place within the Evil Spirit Orca Group.

Ren Tao said, "Old Seventeen, take the little ones in our pod and leave. Make sure you don't swim too fast! Avoid the Demon Soul Great White Shark Group and wait for me to find you!"

Within the Evil Spirit Orca Group, no one had a name, only a designation. Previously, Ren Tao had been preoccupied with staying alive and had never been in the mood to name them.

"My king, why?" Old Seventeen's eyes held confusion and a hint of humiliation. Fleeing at a time like this was not the Evil Spirit Orcas' way!

"Get out!"

Ren Tao offered no explanation. With a flick of his tail, he sent Old Seventeen flying.

This is all I can do for you!

Without looking back, Ren Tao swam swiftly forward.

It was a long day, and a terrifying one. Watching his companions die one after another, Ren Tao wanted only for his showdown with Tang San to arrive sooner. Whether he lived or died, all of this had already pushed him to the limits of his endurance.

At last, after dozens of Evil Spirit Orcas had died, they had fled over a thousand li.

A red signal flare shot into the sky, looking for all the world like dazzling holiday fireworks.

The green flare told the Shrek Seven Devils to prepare for battle, while the red flare signaled the launch of an all-out attack.

At that moment, hot tears filled Ren Tao's eyes. The instant he sensed the flare, he wheeled around with all his might and unleashed a spiritual attack at full strength.

Boom!

Immense spiritual powers collided, sending a thunderous rumble through Ren Tao's mind. An enemy both familiar and unfamiliar had appeared-Xiao Bai, leader of the Demon Soul Great White Sharks!

"Roar!"

A jet of water erupted from the Evil Orca King's back. Amid his roar, a deep, hoarse voice rang out with towering fury. "Were you the one who killed my kin?"

"That's right. It was us, Evil Tiger. Do you still remember what I said when you killed my younger brother back then? Today, you'll repay your blood debt in blood. You bastards who have defiled the ocean-we will destroy you on behalf of Lord Sea God."

Xiao Bai spoke haughtily.

As Ren Tao looked at Xiao Bai, the emotions rising within him included not only rage, but also a trace of pity.

"Do you know what you're saying? If you want to kill me for my Soul Ring, then as a Soul Beast, I have nothing to say. But we are members of the ocean's ecosystem too. What gives you the right to say we've defiled it? When it comes to slaughter, have your Demon Soul Great White Sharks done any less? Yes, I killed your younger brother. But how many of my kin have died at your hands?"

"Uh..."

Xiao Bai froze for a moment. She had always taken it for granted that she represented justice and the Sea God. But where had those words about defiling the ocean come from? For a moment, even she could not figure it out.

"Ignorant and pitiful! Even if the Evil Spirit Orca Group is destroyed at your hands today, how much better will your own end be? One day, you'll understand that your so-called Sea God has never watched over your kind!"

Ren Tao's voice brimmed with icy killing intent. Many years later, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's wife would devour Xiao Bai's pod. But right now, Ren Tao had no desire whatsoever to tell Xiao Bai that.

One day, you'll pay for your ignorance!

Xiao Bai said no more. Roaring, she charged forward without hesitation.

Elsewhere, Tang San pushed off Xiao Bai with one foot and rose into the air amid dazzling blue light. His icy gaze swept across the battlefield as he told his companions, "Complete your tasks first. Rongrong, boost Xiao Bai!"

At that moment, what Ren Tao wanted most was to tear Tang San's body apart and swallow every last scrap of his flesh and blood.

But Xiao Bai hounded him relentlessly. Ren Tao had no way to break free, much less any chance to attack Tang San.

Boom!

An enormous thunderous crash rang across the battlefield as the battle erupted in an instant.

This chapter has been revised, because the previous description gave some readers the wrong impression that the male lead was Tang San's bootlicker.

That's not the case. From the standpoint of survival, they are mortal enemies.

As for their character, even less needs to be said. Those who know, know!